Iranian women burn their hijabs as hundreds protest death of Mahsa Amini

[IronLionZion]

https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/21/middleeast/iran-mahsa-amini-death-widespread-protests-intl-hnk/index.html

(CNN)In the video, a massive crowd cheers as a woman lifts a pair of scissors to her hair -- exposed, without a hijab in sight. The sea of people, many of them men, roar as she chops off her ponytail and raises her fist in the air.

It was a powerful act of defiance Tuesday night in the Iranian city of Kerman, where women are required to wear hijabs (or headscarves) in public, as outrage over the death of a woman in police custody fuels protests across the country.

Iranian authorities said Wednesday that three people, including a member of the security forces, have been killed in the unrest, which has stretched into a fifth day.

Human rights groups have reported that at least seven people have been killed.
The death last week of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested in Tehran by morality police -- a dedicated unit that enforces strict dress codes for women, such as wearing the compulsory headscarf -- has sparked an outpouring anger over issues ranging from freedoms in the Islamic Republic to the crippling economic impacts of sanctions.

The protests are striking for their scale, ferocity and rare feminist nature; the last demonstrations of this size were three years ago, after the government hiked gas prices in 2019.

Further down in the article there are reports of some protesters being shot dead. Maybe it's time for another revolution to throw these bums out.

[Scrivener7]

1. There aren't words to express the awe I have for these women.

[Tetrachloride]

2. the region is watching

[IronLionZion]

5. Not sure the region will be much help

when their neighbors are Afghanistan and Iraq.

[Tetrachloride]

7. True. Progress is from within and going outwards

[Hortensis]

12. True, Iran's the lion in the region. Religious extremist groups

in other countries, not just Shia, need Iran's hard-core religious authoritarianism to maintain strong control.

Iran's president and ours are at the UN today. Iran's said he's serious about reviving the nuclear deal. Wonder if by any chance this poor girl's death and the international condemnation might have affected the strength of his statement at this time. Even a bit.

[electric_blue68]

3. Watching Vids on Twitter a few hours ago... Intense!

[kysrsoze]

4. I hope this continues to grow and they overthrow the ruling clerics

I’m so tired of seeing oppression in the name of religion.

[lindysalsagal]

6. This expression of female rebellion will terrify the male leadership.

I know young Iranians are increasingly western, but not the political leadership. This society is inherently afraid of women. They wouldn't have such prohibitive laws against women unless they were afraid. I know the standard explanation is religion and cultural habit, but I believe it goes far deeper than that. The women are not seen as equal and have no legal protections. I'm afraid for their safety. I don't even know if women are allowed to vote, or if it's a legitimate vote. I can't imagine the religious leaders allowing a mere vote interfering with their sense of entitlement over women. It's a case where the women are following the female expression of freedom that they know from here in the US, that they just don't have there. I can't help but feel like I share some responsibility for their dangerous feelings I get to enjoy safely.

Unless and until their men start to pressure the government to allow this dissent, they're risking everything.

[IronLionZion]

9. Iranian women got the vote in 1962, then the Ayatollahs took it away

it gets even weirder. Khomeini claimed women's vote was just as sinful as prostitution, yet they allow prostitution in Iran with short term marriages. They pay for a marriage and just divorce after an hour.

[Irish_Dem]

14. A desire for freedom burns in the heart of humans. Women will eventually fight for it.

And die for it like as others have done.

[niyad]

8. For my incredibly brave sisters! Would you consider cross-posting this in

Women's Rights And Issues? Thanks in advance.

[IronLionZion]

10. You're welcome to cross post it if you like

[niyad]

11. My pos will not let me post links, or copy and paste.

[Javaman]

13. from what I understand...

(aside from the general control of women) there is nothing in the Koran that says that women have to were a hijab

I could be wrong but I did read that somewhere recently.

[haele]

15. Both men and women are supposed to dress modestly per the custom of the country they reside.

There is nothing about covering the head in public, only in a mosque or other holy place.
Men are also supposed to control their impulses around women.
We have a translation of the Koran along with other religions. I've read it several times when researching for medieval re-creation. Hajib is a practice as well as an item of dress.

Haele

[LeftInTX]

16. I went to a mosque once. They told me that I did not need to cover my head

Or sit on the women's side etc.

I'm not Muslim. I was visiting as a guest. I did wear a head covering out of respect etc.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

17. These women risk their lives just to reveal their hair. The system is insane.